Monday, April 23, 2012

I have evolved a great
deal in fourteen weeks. Whether it is my overall length of my writing, or the
content that I put into my writings I have improved. This class has changed my
outlook and my landscape of writing completely. I am not trying to write for a
passing grade, like I did in high school. I am writing for myself now and I
enjoy the essence of writing. I know that when I graduate and I reflect on my
classes that this class was my cornerstone for all of my work. I say that because
I will use this knowledge in not only English classes but in other classes as
well.

The Everywhereist was my best piece of writing in the
class. I feel like that I have accomplished most of the goals that I stated in
my final assessment. I brainstormed for this assignment. Not only in my ideas
for The Everywhereist but for the assignment its self. I made several rough
drafts for this paper. I spent time playing around with different ways to word
my post because I wanted it to be perfect. I revised my writing to the best of
my ability in this post because like I said I wanted it to be perfect. This is
something that I am improving on the more that I write. Revision is something
that I needed to improve in, and I believe that I am improving. I tried to
integrate and document the author's ideas into my post. I also tried to blend
both of our ideas together.

I believe that I learned
to consider my role as a writer in not just one post. At the beginning of the
course I was writing as a student. Now I am writing to be more of a contributor
to the writing world. My best post to show how I've changed is Headaches.
In this post I talk about the headache of having to choose the perfect blog for
my project. I was writing to everyone that wanted to know about the top blogs
not just to my class. I still had areas to improve on in this post, but for the
most part I liked it.

My Greatest Hits CD is what I used my thesis technique. I researched all my
material and compiled it together. It was a little difficult to go through all
the years the band that I did to find all the information. I supported my
thesis with facts and could use sources too support my facts. In The
Everywhereist I also used a thesis technique to compile facts and listed my
sources to accredit my facts. I also have used the thesis technique on other
posts but not to the degree I did on these two posts.

I plan to improve on my typos
and fix my proofreading errors. I have greatly improved on many of the
skills required to proofread I'm just not one-hundred percent yet. I know that
I will be very soon because this class has taught me so many different ways to
proofread. This class has also given me resources to improve my writing.
Without these resources I would not have improved as much as I have.

To conclude, I have had a
wonderful experience in this class and look towards the future. This class was
an amazing way to improve my ability as a writer. I have improved my writing
techniques ten-fold all because of this single class. I appreciate how this
class allowed us to progress at our own pace. As this class comes to end I know
that I have evolved as a writer.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

This week I decided to chipmunk Adele. I don't necessarily listen to her music but hey she won a lot of Grammy's this year so I used her voice. She has a very unique voice, and it is hard to capture her pitch and raise the level. I used my iPad app DJay to make this remake of "Set Fire to the Rain." I also at the time of the make using my speakers not my laptop so when I loaded the song to SoundCloud it peaked. What I mean by peaked is that the sound bogs and makes a hissing sound. I am sorry Adele- Set Fire tothe Rain (Dance Mix)but I will but a remastered version up soon. Hope you enjoy and thanks for listening!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I chose this week to do splash the color. The requirement for this project is to strip all color from a certain picture then color a key point in the picture. In my picture below I chose my key point as the sky. The sky in this picture makes this picture. The assignment is unique in the fact that you have to use editing software to get to your finished product. The reason why I thought it was unique was because Photoshop software is second nature to me. I recommend this software to anyone and everyone that would like to do this assignment. It is a challenge if you do not know anything about photo editing. If you do this assignment I strongly recommend youtubing color splashing technique. It is a very easy task to wrap your head around. Hope you enjoy my picture!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

I chose to do my first DS106 on music and design. This project was actually a whole lot harder than it looks. I had to do a bit of researching and a lot of "musical research" which I enjoyed. My project is on The All-American Rejects, one of the more consistent bands of the decade. They are also one of the only 10 plus year bands without a greatest hits album to date. This project was a joy and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys music.

CD COVER

Track List

Dirty Little
Secret-(3:13)

Swing Swing-(3:52)

Gives You
Hell-(3:33)

Move Along-(3:58)

Stab My Back-(3:09)

Night Drive-(3:23)

It Ends
Tonight-(4:04)

Top of the
World-(3:26)

Fallin' Apart-(3:27)

I Wanna-(3:29)

Real World-(4:03)

Change Your
Mind-(3:38)

Can't Take It-(2:52)

Straitjacket Feeling-(3:37)

Back To Me-(4:31)

Mona Lisa (When the
World Comes Down)-(3:15)

The Last Song-(5:00)

BIO

The All-American
Rejects are a pop punk that was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999.
The band was formed by bassist/lead vocals Tyson Ritter and
guitarist/keyboard/programmer Nick Wheeler. The band later added
guitarist Mike Kennerty and drummer Chris Gaylor to replace Tim
Campbell as main band members. The bands clam-to-fame was in 2003
with the song “Swing, Swing.” The song was an international hit,
and also was placed in other media outlets. The band released their
breakout album after their self titled album. The album “Move
Along” soon went gold showing the true potential of the band. After
touring on Van's Warped Tour they released “When the World Comes
Down” which derived from a lyric in the hit song Mona Lisa (When
the World Comes Down.) The band also had similar success with the hit
song being “Gives You Hell” being the anchor for the album. In
late march TAAR released “Kids in the Street” which looks to have
a promising future.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Optical illusions are an amazing, and I shall do them. This assignment is using a still photo to make something super huge look palm-like using distance. The creator on DS106 used the Washington Monument as her illusion. The monument that I am using is the Houston Cole Library. I have not quite figured out my angle, but that will all be sorted out later.

The reason why I have chosen to do this assignment is because it peaked my interest when I was on the website. I love optical illusions and I love photography. I also think that this idea is very clever in the fact that her idea has been used before, but not as an assignment. I believe that I will succeed in this assignment because of my interests. I also know that my abstract thinking methods will allow be to but a little extra on the piece.

DS106 is a very great learning medium. The idea of user based assignment is a great idea. I hope that one day DS106 is a course offered at every university. I know that my class will enjoy using the website as a learning tool. As our class continues using this learning bridge will see the creativity in classmates. Another reason why DS106 is a great method is that all sorts of majors can use DS106 as a teaching method.

As a film production major I thrive for creative endeavors. Being able to use my abilities and strengths to show people what I can do is my kind of class. Also this class can help my weaknesses become stronger. JSU's film department should have a class based off of this course in my opinion. Not just DS106 based, but most of the class should be based upon the site.

In conclusion, I urge everyone to do your best while we have the opportunity to excel in this course and your assignment. I know that we can do an amazing job on our assignment. I also urge you not to do just one assignment but to keep working. You never know who will see your work or admire it. I know that this can also help you improve in many other subjects not just English. So get out there and work already!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Politics
are a basic necessity to run a country. Without politics you would at
its base have an anti-democratic dictatorship. From town to world
level politic campaigns are happening everyday. Politics help balance
the structure of government. Politics also involves a certain type of
person. Politics are a major part of the today's government.

Without
politics our government would be chaos without it's structure.
Without our rules in place our government would more than likely have
people serving our country on Capital Hill doing the same crap that
did not get them re-elected. Our terms for service would be out the
window. Just think Bill Clinton might still be president with Al Gore
down his back. Even after the global warming scandal Gore would
probably still be taking tax payer money, thus causing an even
greater hole for us to dig out of. Just be glad that USA has a base
structure and we are not like a third world country.

The
type of person politics involve is a rare one. Even though they show
compassion to certain subjects they still have to be made of stone.
There will always be an important matter that will not be on their
agenda. Your average politician has probably been presented with the
KONY 2012 movement last year or the year before. I know that I saw
the Invisible Children before
it became an internet phenomenon. The UN and other countries could
have resolved this matter way before it became huge. The thing that
comes back to me is the way that other politicans attack each other.
Commercials I think are a very tasteless way of trying to win a
position. They attack their opponent because they are republican and
voted the same as Obama. I mean come on politicians consult the
people that they are voting for before they vote it. People can just
blur the truth from peoples eyes.

After
all politicians are people and people deserve respect. They are the
same as you and me except with the power of government. As long as
there is something to be governed there will be politics. Like or
dislike they are part of being an American. One of our many freedoms
that our great country gives us. So get out there and get involved
with the lie fest which is politics!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Just to start off I would like to state that there are millions of great blogs out there. Continuing on that note I would like to point out that it is hard to find the right one to show my appreciation to. There has been a significant amount of research being applied to my project. I have read many blogs trying to pinpoint the blog I want to showcase in my project. I know that other people in the class are having difficulties trying to find the blog that they want to use. I would like to just find one that meets all my criteria for my project. I would love to have one that I could write for days about. I want to find a blog that I can subscribe to and enjoy reading on a daily basis.

Another problem that I am having problems with is plagiarism. I do not want to accidentally plagiarize and get a zero. I do have a grasp understanding on what's my idea and not my idea.I know that even if its partly my idea I have to give credit where credit is due. I am very cautious when it comes to my writing I do not want to steal anyone person's ideas. I mean you would not steal their personal belongings? Why steal their ideas? Like we have discussed in class, it is a crime to plagiarize. Many people do not comprehend plagiarism or do not want to follow its rules. Those are the people who will fail or get kicked out.

I know that everyone will be able to pass this project because we all are capable of the work. I know that the project is just basically research. If you do your research then you will be able to finish you work. Your ideas will gather from doing the base work. I have had ideas swirl since I have read the blog that I am researching. I know that I can do this project, and I know that I will be able to ace it as well.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Writer's block is an occurring problem in writers. I, personally, have Writer's block once a week. I hate when I'm set on a subject and can not gather materials on my work. Now I am researching materials on writing. I am improving on gathering materials, but not quite great at it. I do not enjoy sitting in my room with a blank work slate.
I find myself gathering ideas from all kinds of media. My favorite place to get opinionated work material is a tie between Twitter and Facebook. Twitter offers political and worldly biased material if you follow the right people. Facebook offers any kind of material imaginable. It's usually on whatever your friends rant on or are debating. Another media I can gather from is newspapers like the Anniston Star or the New York Times.
All in all writers will suffer from time to time. All they really need to do is get on the internet and do a little research. You never know what you'll find. I know that it has helped me out a lot. I hope that this article can help anyone that is struggling with their work.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Writing in a digital medium is becoming more second nature to me. I am having such a great time using Wikipedia and other sites to publish my work. My table that I finished for our Wikipedia project is one of my best works this semester. The time that I put into archiving his work is why I thought it was my best work to date. Wikipedia also gives me a success like feeling when I successfully edit a page. It's like you have made a wide viewed page better. I think of it as a way to educate all who view. I know that I a contributing to the world.
My other reason why I love digital writing is because of my blog. My blog gives me a chance to get away from the material world. I can waste away for hours just writing on my blog if I wanted to. I can also use a false name. False names are a great way to put out your personal feelings without anyone knowing who you are. Blogging in general gives you power to use your first amendment so get out and use yours!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The class wiki is a chance for all the students. It's a chance to show everyone in the class what you can do. I truly think our class will excell at this task. My fellow classmates are a very bright bunch. I am very intrigued by the portion I am doing. My task is to archive all of his works into a digital medium. I am set that I will do a table archiving by genre and year. I hope that my fellow peers will be able to glance on my work and find exactly what they need. I know that I cannot control others writing, but I have complete faith that our class will excell. My title reflects it all "going for gold". I want our article to be golden. I want the featured article status. That would be a great achievement.
Another topic that I want to address this week is our work individually. It seems like all of our work is evolving I enjoy reading other peers triumphs and toils.[a] I feel like my individual work is evolving. I am more comfortable with my work. I have no reason to worry myself on writing. It's like I just sit back and watch my brain work. I know that I can still improve. I also know that I will improve.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Now that we have been assigned a group project, I am ready to excel. I feel like our class group can meet our goal, and make our article meet the good article standard. It seems like, to me anyways, that our group wants to succeed in this Wiki page. I want our group to meet the standards not just for us, but for all of Wiki. I know that we can do achieve our goals, and make the Wiki community proud. I also want to meet Mrs. Sasser's standards. I know that if we make the good article standards that we will show that we can meet her standards.

I really feel like, personally, that we have the individual writing talents to succeed. Mrs. Sasser has given us enough practice to make this article great! Also I feel like we can better our page so that we can be proud of page. Ashley Mann did an excellent job by herself. She really has the anchor of our group page. I feel like we don't have to tune up her page at all. Also the article development page was well done. Our fair use page was behind because I told them the wrong interpretation of the directions. I take the blame for that one. I know I will be a better writer and listener. I know I will be better.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Last week I reflected on the pros and cons of hybrid English. I believe now that I'm in my group that group work will be fun. I now get to work with two awesome classmates, and I very much look forward to our work together. I like how Mrs. Sasser is taking time in class and discussing the work that we have done. She is making the class so much easier for myself and hopefully my classmates. My writing style is starting to develop. I have became more comfortable with my writing. When we first started I had a fear of my work being negatively judged. Now that I have settled down I don't feel judged. I like reading other classmates' blogs and seeing what they're going through. It gives me a sense of stability in my work.

Like I said in my last blog, accomplishments would revel their selves as the course continued. I have now found one. Teaching our fellow peers and anyone else on our course through Wiki. The group project we're in now was a magnificent idea and teaching tool. I can not wait to finish our work so that future students can learn our course. Indeed a accomplishment when our class publishes our page.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

What are the challenges in hybrid English? I believe that the main challenge for most people is the technology amplitude required for the course. Not that it requires a high amplitude, it's that it takes a basic knowledge or you will be behind. Some people have a problem on the blogging aspect of the class. Blogging is supposed to be fun and entertaining. It is not supposed to be a chore or a hassle. Group work concerns me on an individual aspect. I love to push people and try to bring out the better in them. I just don't know anyone that well yet to bring out the leader in me. I love group challenges, and love the rewards even more.

I believe that this course's accomplishments ooutweigh the challenges. One accomplishment is that I am developing my own writing style. Another is that I am enjoying writing again thanks to blogging. I believe that the hybrid course is the best style of course available at the university. Other accomplishments will show as the course develops. I am excited for this year, and to see what other tools I can place in my toolbox.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Where to begin with writing? In my life it has been an outlet to express myself. I believe it is important for one's self to express their feelings. Writing gives you a private outlet to express those feelings. Writing in my life has given me the chance to get my point on a subject across. I enjoyed writing as a youth. High school writing frustrated me mainly because of MLA format was a change from what I was accustomed to. High school seemed to drain the life out of my papers. I found that blogging and internet posting was a way that I could keep my creativity. In my opinion, writing is a way that normal people can become extraordinary. Think about writers like John Grisham or Stephen King. Two totally different styles, yet they can lose you in a book. Writing makes me feel like I'm one of the elite authors when I'm writing. Now that I'm in college I have a new found respect for writing again. I enjoy it more now than ever. I also think that writing is a way to express your ideas and feelings about a mainstream subject. The main thing I have wrote about the past couple years has been our economy.

Personal writing is the best form of writing to me. I enjoy getting lost in my own work. I love the mindset I get in when I write. It's like nothing matters when I'm writing. Writing gives me clarity. It helps me vent when I'm upset. I can be transparent when I write. I don't have to put up a shield or defend my statements to someone who doesn't agree. I can just put my ideas out there and that's all. I enjoy reading other people's work. It helps me see there true self. Writing has been one of most useful tools in my life. Hopefully I can improve in my writing in college. That's my goal for this year.